Silver bullion is physical, high-purity silver, like coins, bars, ingots, and rounds. As a refresher, silver coins are legal currency produced by government mints that have a face value. The face value of silver coins makes them legal tender, but the face value assigned to the coins pales in comparison to the intrinsic or melt...

Gold bullion has long served as a physical store of value and a hedge against inflation. One of gold bullion’s unique qualities is that it is a tangible investment. While many investors appreciate the fact that gold bullion is an investment they can hold in their hands, some individuals neglect the importance of properly storing...

If someone presented you with two piles of silver bars collectively weighing the same amount, which would you choose? Here’s the thing: silver bar size matters, and it is important to understand why before choosing which bars to buy. The size of a specific silver bar has important implications, affecting price, liquidity, and ease of...

Anyone who owns or invests in physical gold bullion and stores it at a depository has to make an important choice between allocated and unallocated gold bullion. Our goal here is to describe the difference between these two forms of ownership to help you decide which is right for you.  There is no right answer...

Investing in gold bullion can be an exciting journey and one that brings together a lot of moving parts. For newer investors or anyone interested in learning more about buying gold bullion, it can be helpful to have a resource available to support you as you learn more about gold bullion and its many nuances. ...

For newer investors in silver, there are a lot of questions that commonly come up during the buying process. If you’re uncertain about whether or not you should buy silver, you’re not alone.  Investing in silver bullion can be rewarding, though there can be a lot to keep track of when considering your purchase. If...

If you’ve ever seen a piece of gold, silver, or platinum bullion, you may have noticed a pair of strange-looking French words on the metal. This mark is actually quite common and, though seemingly unimportant, can tell you a lot about precious metals bullion.  What does “Essayeur Fondeur” mean? The French “Essayeur Fondeur” translates literally...

Gold bullion products are some of the purest forms of gold available in the world. When it comes to gold bullion, investors can choose from bullion coins, rounds, and bars. Each of these options is useful in its own ways and has its pros and cons. What is gold bullion?  Ever wonder why precious metals...

There might not be anything more important than the purity of a gold coin — the purer the gold, the higher its value. Therefore, testing the purity of gold is something that all coin collectors and numismatic enthusiasts should know how to do. And one of the best ways to test the purity of gold,...

If you want to know how pure your silver coins are, it might be best to strike them against a hard surface and take a listen. That’s because you can use the sound of silver to determine its purity. In fact, experts have used the silver sound test to assess the purity of coins based...

Coin collectors are acutely aware of every detail and design choice on newly minted coins. This impacts the demand for a given coin, as well as its potential future value. As such, members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) who have a say in the design of new coinage in the United States wield...

La Casa de Moneda de México (literally, The House of Money of Mexico), also known as the Mexican Mint, is one of the oldest operational mints in the world. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish monarchy who ruled modern-day Mexico at the time, the mint has been running ever since. The Mexican Mint became an...

Precious metals are produced by both private mints and government mints. It’s important to understand the different types of mints and products before making a decision. Let’s take a look at private mints and what they offer to investors. Private vs. government mints While government mints can and do produce all kinds of precious metal...

Government mints are most recognized for one key thing -- making money. Not just generating a profit but physically producing and manufacturing the coins used as money in a nation’s economy. However, there’s a lot more to government mints than meets the eye, as they have other roles and tasks that must be performed daily....

The value of a bar of gold depends on objective factors like the gold's weight and purity as well as the current market for gold. Understanding the factors that contribute to gold's worth can guide your investment decisions. In the content below, you will learn about the various aspects that determine the value of a...

The silver dollar was once used as standard currency in the United States. The rich history of this coin spans the country's history, and rare varieties of the silver coin command high value for those who want to buy silver. Major Features That Contribute to the Value of a Silver Dollar Coin The value of a...

Gold is a valuable commodity in any industry. Not only is it a popular choice for jewelry, but it's a useful material for dental and medical applications as well. Above even that, it's an economic commodity that intertwines with currency and finances. Gold traders and collectors of every type need to know the details about...

Mining is not new to China, but precious metal mining is. With the demand for gold steadily rising, China's production is also increasing. How does China's production affect investing in this precious metal? Learn more about how China impacts global gold production and international prices. What Is the History of Mining in China? China has a...

Gold is one of the most sought-after precious metals; we use it in electronics, medicine and jewelry. While gold-plated products are ideal for electronic and medical applications, gold-plated jewelry isn't nearly as valuable as its solid-gold counterparts. Learning to tell the difference between a solid-gold and gold-plated piece can help you make wise investment decisions. What...

When you enter the United States from another country, you're required to go through customs and declare certain items. Cash is one of the more common things that require you to fill out a form, if it exceeds a specific amount. This leads many people to think that gold will be treated the same way...

Palladium and gold are two of the most precious metals on the planet. Whether you're an investor or collector, you might wonder which metal is the most expensive to determine the best options for you. Here, we explore whether palladium is more expensive than gold and the predictions for their future values. Palladium Price Trends...

Gold has been put on a pedestal ” or used to make said pedestal ” for thousands of years. In the grand scale of time, our understanding of the properties of gold is fairly new. Before we get into gold's melting point and density, it's a good idea to have an understanding of what these...

Testing gold at home can be a less expensive way of finding the value of the piece of jewelry or metal you have in your possession. Though a professional evaluation is the best route to take, some home gold testing kits can sufficiently tell you if what you have is real as well as the...

Gold has been a valuable commodity throughout recorded history. Investing in gold bars and coins will add diversity to your portfolio and can provide valuable protection against market fluctuations and inflation. After purchasing gold bars and coins, you should be sure to store them properly to protect their value and prevent damage or theft. Here is everything you...

The discovery of palladium over 200 years ago was slow and painful. This shiny white element was first thought to be an alloy of platinum, and after much scientific research and discussion, it became a platinum group metal or PGM. Fast forward a few centuries, and palladium is now more expensive than platinum or even...